11 students injured in school bus accident

A school bus carrying 36 students and two teachers of Government Senior Secondary School Nathupur, Hoshiarpur, collided with a truck near a petrol pump on the Kishangarh road on Tuesday. Eleven students and a teacher received minor injuries in the accident.

Eyewitnesses said that the truck approached the road from the petrol pump at great speed and the bus driver failed to spot the vehicle.

“The bus hit the side of the truck and fell into the roadside, hitting electricity poles and several trees. The windshield of the bus was broken, causing injuries to students and the teacher seated at the front seats,” sources said.

“The truck driver fled from the spot,” the police said. The collision of the bus with electricity poles disrupted power supply in the area for hours and PowerCom employees had to work hard to restore supply.

However, no police case was registered on the request of the school authorities.

“The school authorities requested no action apprehending police harassment. However, it is such inaction that encourages rash driving. The police should have registered a case against the truck driver,” rued Rajinder Nath, a resident of Kartarpur.

Jalandhar DTO Dalwinder Singh said, “I am busy with my duties as returning officer for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls. However, I have asked the officials concerned to take appropriate action.”

Deputy commissioner Shruti Singh said, “We are taking all possible steps to increase safety of students travelling by buses. The accidents are unfortunate. I recommend cancellation of driving licences and strict legal action against drivers at fault.”